Equipment and method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip

ABSTRACT

The equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip comprises a device for gripping the sock from the area of formation of the same on a circular machine for socks and at least one device for transferring the gripping device to a predetermined final position for feeding the sewing machine, which comprises rotation means of the gripping device adapted to impart a rotation speed to it that is synchronised with the rotation speed of the needle cylinder of the circular machine when the gripping device is in a predetermined position inside the needle cylinder so as to form an annular gap with the latter, inside which the sock arranges during its formation.

[0001] The present invention relates to an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip.

[0002] As known, socks manufactured on circular machines for socks are currently defined by a tubular, exhibiting a heel and a tip which, once the tubular manufacture has ended, remains open.

[0003] Thus, after manufacturing the sock, the latter is manually taken on and, after having arranged the two rims of its aperture in a predetermined way, it is inserted into a suitable sewing machine which carries out the sewing of the tip thus connecting the two edges of its aperture.

[0004] In some types of circular machines for socks, the sock tip has recently been directly sewn into the machine for manufacturing it.

[0005] However, besides being extremely complex and expensive, and besides significantly complicating the entire structure of the machine, such solution exhibits the disadvantage of causing frequent jamming of the machine, which is blocked, thus interrupting not only the sock tip sewing, but also the production of the same.

[0006] In fact, in a particular type of circular machines for manufacturing socks, each sock is arranged so that its tip is sewn, and it is withdrawn by means of the delivery of the stitches by the cylinder needles to the needles of the withdrawing device, with all the consequences that such operation implies.

[0007] In another type of machines, the tips are even sewn into the same machine that manufactures the socks, thus further complicating the same and further increasing the possibility of jamming the machine.

[0008] Moreover, the sewing of a sock tip into the machine that manufactures it implies that a respective device adapted to sew the sock tip must be arranged onto each machine, respectively, and thus such device can be only applied to that type of machine and not to other types of machines.

[0009] For these reasons, and for the considerable purchase costs of the machines used for such purpose, sock sewing is still substantially carried out by manually withdrawing the sock from the machine and then, arranging it in a suitable way on the sewing machine, with a consequent use of manpower, which makes the production and sales costs of the finished sock increase.

[0010] The object of the present finding is that of eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.

[0011] Within the scope of this object, an important purpose of the present finding is that of providing an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip which should allow to carry out such operation externally to the machine that manufactures the sock so as to be an autonomous and independent operation with respect to the actual manufacture of the sock tubular.

[0012] Another purpose of the finding is that of providing an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip which could be applied to any machine for manufacturing socks without having to substantially modify its structure.

[0013] Another purpose of the finding is that of providing an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip which should allow concurrently feeding a sewing from one or more machines that manufacture the socks.

[0014] A further purpose of the finding is that of providing an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip wherein the equipment is not arranged into the circular sock machine, thus preventing a considerable complication of the same and preventing the possibility of jamming of the latter.

[0015] A further purpose of the finding is that of providing an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip wherein the sock withdrawal from the needle cylinder should occur without having to deliver the stitches by the cylinder needles to the withdrawing device so as to eliminate any difficulty which said operation implies.

[0016] Last but not least, another purpose of the finding is that of providing an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip which should allow reducing or totally eliminating the use of manpower with consequent relevant saving on the production and sales cost of the finished product.

[0017] This object, as well as these and other purposes, are achieved by an equipment for automatically feeding a sewing of a sock tip comprising a device for gripping said sock from the area of formation of the same on a circular machine for socks and at least one device for transferring said gripping device in a final predetermined position for feeding said sewing machine, characterised in that it comprises rotation means of said gripping device adapted to impart a rotation speed to it that is synchronised with the rotation speed of the needle cylinder of said circular machine when said gripping device is in a predetermined position inside said needle cylinder so as to form an annular gap with the latter, inside which said sock arranges during its formation.

[0018] Object of the present finding is also a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip which is characterised in that it consists in moving a gripping device of said sock into the needle cylinder of a circular machine for socks by concurrently actuating the air suction inside it, in bringing said gripping device in rotation in synchrony with the rotation speed of said needle cylinder, in manufacturing the tubular of said sock without a knit course, in pinching the knit of said tubular through said gripping device on at least two diametrically opposed portions, in completing said knit course of said tubular in said needle cylinder so that, once completed, the sock is oriented according to a predetermined orientation according to the final requirements, and in withdrawing the sock thus oriented from said needle cylinder to move it to said sewing machine.

[0019] Again, the sock obtained through the method described above and with the equipment described above is characterised in that, in the proximity of the sewing portion of the aperture of the sock, it comprises a thickening adapted to define a mechanical abutment for aligning said sewing portion with the guides of the sewing machine.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an equipment and a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to the finding, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example in the attached drawings. In such drawings:

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a schematic side elevation view of a circular machine for socks with the equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip;

[0022]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 according to the finding;

[0023]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged sectioned view of the base of the sock gripping device according to the finding;

[0024]FIG. 4 shows a schematic view showing the withdrawing means of the sock gripping device according to the finding;

[0025]FIG. 5 schematically shows the linkage adapted to make the pointed sock gripping members diverge and converge according to the finding;

[0026]FIG. 6 shows a side elevation view of a pointed member adapted to withdraw the sock according to the finding;

[0027]FIG. 7 shows a partial plan view of the pointed members adapted to withdraw the sock according to the finding;

[0028]FIG. 8 shows a sectioned side elevation view of a second embodiment of the means for withdrawing the sock from the needle cylinder according to the finding;

[0029]FIGS. 9 and 10 show a plan view of the withdrawing means shown in FIG. 8, showing the rotation of the support bodies of the pointed members according to the finding;

[0030]FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of the sock that is manipulated by the equipment object of the finding for allowing the automatic sewing of its tip; and

[0031]FIGS. 12 and 13 show a different embodiment of the withdrawing means of the sock gripping device according to the finding.

[0032] With reference to the above described figures, the equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to the finding, referred to with reference numeral 1, comprises a device for gripping the sock, referred to with reference numeral 2, adapted to engage the sock from the formation area of the same on a circular machine for socks, indicated with reference numeral 3.

[0033] Moreover, the equipment comprises at least one device, generically indicated with reference numeral 4, for transferring the sock gripping device 3 to a final predetermined position for feeding a sewing machine, indicated with reference numeral 50.

[0034] Advantageously, the equipment comprises rotation means 5 of the gripping device 2, which are adapted to impart a rotation speed to the latter that is synchronised with the rotation speed of the needle cylinder 6 of the circular machine 3 when the sock gripping device 2 is in a predetermined position inside the needle cylinder 6.

[0035] In this way, an annular gap 7 forms between the gripping device 2 and the needle cylinder 6, inside which the sock arranges during its formation, also with the help of the air suction realised into the needle cylinder 6.

[0036] In particular, the transfer device 4 comprises an arm 8 supporting the sock gripping device 2.

[0037] Moreover, arm 8 is mobile along a guide 9 that is parallel to the needle cylinder 6, so as to move the sock gripping device 2 from a first position—external to the needle cylinder 6—to a second position internal to the same, as shown in FIG. 1, and vice versa.

[0038] Moreover, the transfer device 4 is adapted to move the gripping device 2 from the first position coaxial to the needle cylinder 6 to at least one final predetermined position adapted to allow the insertion of the sock into guides 51 of the sewing machine 50 in an optimum way.

[0039] More in detail, the sock gripping device 2 comprises a support base 52 associated to arm 8, which rotatably supports an elongated tubular member 10 exhibiting, at its end, means for withdrawing the sock, referred to with reference numeral 11, from the needle cylinder 6.

[0040] Moreover, base 52 of the gripping device 2 comprises the above-mentioned rotation means 5 exhibiting connection means 12, defined by a quadrangular-head mechanical coupling for operatively connecting the elongated tubular member 10 with the needle cylinder 6 so as to synchronise the rotation speed of the tubular member with that of the needle cylinder.

[0041] Moreover, the base of the gripping device 2 comprises holding means 14 adapted to block the elongated tubular member 10 in a predetermined angular position when the connection means 12 is not actuated, that is, is not engaged with the needle cylinder 6.

[0042] In particular, the holding means 14 comprises a braking element 15 defined by an inclined surface 17 adapted to engage with an inclined counter-surface integral with arm 8.

[0043] The braking element 15 is actuated by the movement of the connection means 12 in contrast with and under the action of elastic means, in particular, of a spring 16.

[0044] In this way, when the connection between the connection means 12 and the needle cylinder 6 occurs, the braking element 15 lowers, thus allowing the synchronised rotation of the tubular member 10, whereas when the connection mans disengages from the needle cylinder 6, spring 16 brings the braking element 15 back against the inclined surface 17, thus blocking the tubular member 10 in the predetermined position required also during the movement of the same outside machine 3 by arm 8.

[0045] Moreover, the base comprises a sealing member, defined by an annular gasket 18, adapted to sealingly close an aperture 19 of a channel 20 through which the air suction into the needle cylinder 6 is carried out when the elongated member 10, and thus the withdrawing means 11, are in the second position, that is, arranged into the needle cylinder.

[0046] The withdrawing means 11 comprises a linkage adapted to move at least 2 support bodies, and in particular, in a preferred solution, at least four support bodies 20, each supporting at least two pointed members 21 which are adapted to penetrate, as it will be better explained hereinafter, into at least four diametrically opposed areas of the knit of the sock tubular.

[0047] In particular, the linkage adapted to move the four support bodies 20 comprises a first driving gear 22 adapted to make the pointed members 21 diverge and converge, as shown in FIG. 5, in contrast with and under the action of first elastic means defined by the body itself of the pointed members 21.

[0048] Moreover, the linkage also comprises at least a second driving gear 23 adapted to transform the rectilinear motion of a cursor 24 into a rotation motion of the four support bodies 20.

[0049] The support bodies 20 are hinged with cursor 24 along a hinging axis 25, and with the first driving gear 22 through a hinging axis 26 and thus, they are forced to oscillate from a position that is internal to the elongated member 10, to a position that is external to the same, so as to penetrate—through the pointed members 21—the knit of the tubular and afterwards, when the pointed members 21 have pinched the fabric, as shown in FIG. 5, and retract them so as to remove the sock from the needle cylinder.

[0050] In a constructive variant, the linkage comprises a first driving gear defined by a small piston 30 adapted to move a pinching head 31 against the pointed members 32 for gripping the sock.

[0051] The small piston 30 is mobile in contrast with and under the action of elastic means defined by a spring 56.

[0052] The linkage also comprises a second driving gear 33 adapted to transform the rectilinear motion of a cursor 34 into a rotation motion of the two support bodies 35 of the pointed members 32 through the help of helical cams 60.

[0053] In particular, the support bodies 35 of the pointed members 32 and of the small piston 30 and of the pinching head 31, are hinged through a hinging 36 with the second driving gear 33 and through a hinging 37 with the tubular member 10.

[0054] Advantageously, the pointed members in the first solution, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, are made of music wire, and each of them exhibits a first end portion having a tip 40, which is inclined towards the other, and a second rectilinear end portion 41 which is integrally connected with the support bodies and which, during the convergence and the separation of the pointed members, determines an elastic flexo-torsion of the same which, after stress, return to their initial position.

[0055] In a different example, the withdrawing means 11 comprises a linkage adapted to move at least two (or four) pointed members 121.

[0056] The pointed member 121 are hinged in 122 with a fixed tubular support 123, inside which there is a sliding mobile tubular element 124 whose ends are pivoted to the same pointed members 121.

[0057] In this embodiment, the elongated member 10 (having a reduced diameter with respect to the previous solution) exhibits an end 101 provided with a thickened edge 102 against which the pointed members 121 are adapted to move, and a recessed portion 103 for the passage of sock 105.

[0058] Sock 105 goes down between the tubular member 124 and the elongated member 10; the elongated member 10 and the tubular members 123, 124 are extracted from below; on the other hand, when the sock must be withdrawn from the sewing machine, it is extracted from above after having opened the pointed members 121.

[0059] Moreover, in this solution, sock 105 does not slide against the external containment tube (not shown, coaxial to the tubular members 123 and 124).

[0060] The pointed members 121 pushed by the tubular member 124 rotate around pivots 122, passing from a spaced position with respect to the end 101 of the elongated member 10 to a position that is associated to said elongated member 10 (with the interposition of the sock).

[0061] In practice, the pointed members 121 close, thus pressing the sock against end 101 and blocking it.

[0062] Another object of the present patent is also a method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip.

[0063] In particular, the method consists in moving a device for gripping the sock into the needle cylinder of the circular machine for socks.

[0064] During the arrangement of the gripping device into the needle cylinder, the air suction is concurrently actuated into the same, and a mechanical connection between the needle cylinder and the gripping device is carried out, so as to bring the latter into rotation at the same speed as the rotation speed of the needle cylinder.

[0065] Once such operation has been carried out, the tubular of the sock is manufactured in an in se traditional way without a knit course, that is, by making the needle cylinder perform one turn less.

[0066] At this point, through the gripping device, the knit of the sock tubular is pinched on at least two diametrically opposed portions.

[0067] For example, if the withdrawing means shown in FIG. 4 is used, the tubular is pinched on four portions that are diametrically opposed to one another, whereas in the case of the withdrawing means shown in FIG. 8, the tubular is only pinched on two diametrically opposed portions.

[0068] Once the sock tubular has been pinched, the last knit course is performed, that is to say, the needle cylinder is made to make one more turn so that, once completed, the sock heel and its mouth are orientated according to a predetermined orientation in function of the final requirements of orientation of the sock, which will allow it to be inserted into the sewing machine.

[0069] The sock thus oriented is then withdrawn from the gripping device and transported externally to the needle cylinder.

[0070] During the withdrawal of the sock from the needle cylinder, the automatic locking of the gripping device is carried out so as to prevent a possible accidental movement of the same, and thus of the sock, from the predetermined position; moreover, the suction into the needle cylinder is interrupted.

[0071] After the extraction of the sock from the needle cylinder through the gripping device, the latter is moved outside of the circular machine by a fixed extent through a rotation movement around a parallel axis with respect to that of the needle cylinder.

[0072] Once said position has been reached, according to which the sock orientation into the needle cylinder has been previously determined, the gripping device is lifted again in order to move the sock into the correct predetermined position, so as to be transferred into the sewing machine.

[0073] Since the gripping device is provided with withdrawing means that comprises a linkage adapted to move, in a first solution, four support bodies, each supporting two pointed members adapted to penetrate into at least four diametrically opposed portions of the sock tubular, the pointed members will be in a retracted position during the withdrawal of the sock from the needle cylinder, and in an open position, outside the machine, for opening the sock aperture in an optimum way to be gripped and brought into the sewing machine.

[0074] On the other hand, if the pointed members only act on two diametrically opposed points of the sock tubular, besides by means of the two pointed members, the separation of the aperture of the latter also occurs by an air blow, which helps to carry out said operation.

[0075] Advantageously, in proximity of the sewing portion of aperture 61, sock 60, which is manufactured on the circular machine for socks, exhibits an annular thickening 62 adapted to define a mechanical abutment capable of allowing the alignment of the sewing portion into the guides of the sewing machine.

[0076] Moreover, for the purpose of facilitating the automatic opening of its aperture, adapted to facilitate the gripping of the sock after it has been oriented and transferred outside the circular machine, the sock comprises elastically pliable elements, such as elastic threads 63 that are woven in proximity of the sewing portion, so as to create a surface adapted to take a diverging configuration, thus capable of automatically opening the sock aperture for its gripping and its transfer into the sewing machine.

[0077] Thanks to the fact that the equipment and the method that allow automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip are autonomous and independent from the structure of the circular machine, besides preventing the jamming of the latter, they allow the transfer of more socks with a predetermined orientation from more circular machines on which they are manufactured, to a single sewing machine for sewing the tip, thus allowing the continuous use of this last-mentioned machine.

[0078] The invention achieves the proposed purposes and also achieves several important advantages.

[0079] In fact, a new method and a new equipment have been devised for automating the transfer of a sock manufactured on a circular machine for socks according to a predetermined orientation into the circular machine.

[0080] Such solution will allow the transfer with predetermined orientation to the sewing machine so that the latter may carry out the sewing of the two rims according to the required orientation.

[0081] The invention thus conceived can be subject to several modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the present inventive idea; moreover, all details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

[0082] The materials used, shapes and sizes can be of any type according to the requirements. 

1. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip comprising a device for gripping the sock from the area of formation of the same on a circular machine for socks and at least one device for transferring said gripping device to a predetermined final position for feeding said sewing machine, characterised in that it comprises rotation means of said gripping device adapted to impart a rotation speed to it that is synchronised with the rotation speed of the needle cylinder of said circular machine when said gripping device is in a predetermined position inside said needle cylinder so as to form an annular gap with the latter, inside which said sock arranges during its formation.
 2. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to claim 1 , characterised in that said transfer device comprises an arm supporting said gripping device, said arm being mobile along a guide that is parallel to said needle cylinder for moving said gripping device from a first position external to said needle cylinder, to a second position internal to the same and vice versa, and from said first position coaxial to said needle cylinder to at least said final predetermined position.
 3. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said gripping device comprises a support base, associated to said arm, rotatably supporting an elongated tubular member exhibiting, at its end, means for withdrawing said sock from said needle cylinder.
 4. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said base comprises said rotation means exhibiting connection means of said elongated tubular member with said needle cylinder for synchronising its rotation speed with that of said needle cylinder, and holding means of said elongated tubular member in a predetermined angular position when said connection means is not actuated.
 5. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said holding means comprises a braking element actuated by said connection means in contrast with and under the action of elastic means.
 6. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said base comprises a sealing member for closing an aperture of a channel for sucking air from said needle cylinder when said withdrawing means is in said second position.
 7. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said withdrawing means comprises a linkage adapted to move at least two support bodies, each supporting at least two pointed members adapted to penetrate into at least two diametrically opposed areas of the tubular of said sock.
 8. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said linkage comprises a first driving gear adapted to make said pointed members diverge and converge in contrast with and under the action of first elastic means, and at least a second driving gear adapted to transform the rectilinear motion of a cursor into a rotation motion of said support bodies, said support bodies being hinged with said cursor and said first driving gear.
 9. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said linkage comprises a first driving gear adapted to move a pinching head against said pointed members for gripping said sock in contrast with and under the action of elastic means, and at least a second driving gear adapted to transform the rectilinear motion of a cursor a rotation motion of said two support bodies of said pointed members, said support bodies being hinged with said cursor and said elongated tubular member.
 10. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first elastic means is defined by the body itself of said pointed members.
 11. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said pointed members are made of music wire and exhibit a first end portion having tips that are inclined with one another, and a second end portion which is integrally connected with said support bodies.
 12. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said withdrawing means comprises a plurality of pointed members hinged with a support and hinged with at least one mobile element, said mobile element being adapted to move said pointed members between a spaced position with respect to one end of said elongated member, and a position that is associated to said elongated member.
 13. Equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said end of said elongated member exhibits a thickened edge against which said pointed members are adapted to go, and a recessed portion for the passage of the sock.
 14. Method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it consists in moving a gripping device of said sock into the needle cylinder of a circular machine for socks, by concurrently actuating the air suction inside it, in bringing said gripping device in synchrony with the rotation speed of said needle cylinder, in manufacturing the tubular of said sock without a knit course, in pinching the knit of said tubular through said gripping device on at least two diametrically opposed portions and in completing said knit course of said tubular into said needle cylinder so that, once completed, the sock is oriented according to a predetermined orientation in function of the final requirements, and in withdrawing the sock thus oriented from the needle cylinder to move it to said sewing machine.
 15. Method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that during the withdrawal of said sock from said needle cylinder, the automatic locking of said gripping device is carried out, and said suction is interrupted.
 16. Method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that after the extraction of said sock from said needle cylinder through said gripping device, the latter is brought into rotation around a parallel axis with respect to that of said needle cylinder by a fixed quantity, and it is lifted to move said sock into a correct position so as to be brought into said sewing machine.
 17. Method for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that gripping device exhibits withdrawing means which comprises a linkage adapted to move at least two support bodies, each supporting at least two pointed members adapted to penetrate into at least two diametrically opposed portions of the tubular of said sock, said pointed members being in a retracted position during the withdrawal of said sock from said needle cylinder, and in open position in said correct position to be brought into said sewing machine.
 18. Sock structure manufactured onto an equipment for automatically feeding a sewing machine with a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that in proximity of the sewing portion of the sock aperture, it comprises a thickening adapted to define a mechanical abutment for aligning said sewing portion with the guides of the sewing machine.
 19. Sock structure according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises elastically pliable elements woven in proximity of said sewing portion for the automatic opening of said aperture.
 20. Plant for automatically sewing a sock tip according to one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises more sock machines provided with an equipment for automatically feeding means for transferring said socks with a predetermined orientation from said equipment to a machine for sewing their tip. 